A Brighter Sun is a coming-of-age novel by Caribbean writer Sam Selvon, first published in 1952. It describes the marriage and early adulthood of Tiger, who lives in Trinidad, which sees a unique blend of Creole, Indian, and English cultures. At age 16, Tiger marries Urmilla. Upon their marriage, he gets a mud hut in Baratria, where he first works as a farmer. Then, the American military arrives to build a highway through the farms on which Tiger has worked. Rather than protest, Tiger agrees to become a construction worker on the project. He makes an effort to learn English and communicate well in order to advance his social status. He and his wife Urmilla (and eventually their daughter) belong to the lower class, and he envies his neighbors, Joe and Rita, whose brick house has electricity and running water.

One day, Tiger invites his American bosses over for dinner, but gets drunk and later beats his pregnant wife. His wife becomes ill, and Tiger tries to find a doctor for her. An Indian and Creole doctor both refuse to treat her, but an English doctor agrees. This represents a turning point for Tiger's cultural understanding. Tiger's son by Urmilla is delivered a still-born; however, the now mature Tiger is undaunted by his circumstances, and begins the construction of a new house, aided by his friends and neighbors.